California

Two 5-6 hour flights, two "should take 3 but really takes 4" hour car drives later, and we're back from our trip to California. The travel was hard, but the trip was great.

Our cute kids, just before Bryan and Amy's wedding...

Kathryn and Daddy...

And the San Francisco Bay, which I'd never seen before...by the way, this was taken from our hotel window on Sunday night. I wish I could say I sat under that curved tree and read a book, but alas, we left early Monday morning.

Subtleties

I am an observer. I notice things like a person's change in disposition, whether or not a couple walking together is wearing wedding rings, and what time of day I might expect to see the same people around my town. I notice when something on sale at CVS has a matching manufacturer's coupon. I notice when my favorite peanut butter is suddenly 10 cents more expensive even though the jar is 2 ounces smaller. I'm no Adrian Monk, but I notice things.

There are other things, though, try as I may, that I will never notice. I'll never notice when my husband needs a haircut, or even that he's gotten it cut, unless he tells me. I won't notice when I'm tired, though I would probably notice if I was well-rested. And something I completely don't notice is the difference between a dark blue suit and a black one. I'm pretty certain the designers just say they're different shades to sell you one of each.

I mention this because I packed for our trip today and assured Mike that I didn't need help. I packed him four ties, for crying out loud, so he could choose from an assortment on the day of the wedding. You want your black suit? You've got it. Leave it to me, Dear, I don't get out much but I can handle packing a suitcase. I noticed in the evening that he was looking over what I'd packed...not so much in a critical sense, but in a curious one. He informed me that I'd packed his blue suit. Um, no...look again, I packed the black one. No, it's blue. You're kidding me. I held them next to each other trying to make the distinction, to no avail. I'll just take his word for it. In the end, he packed the charcoal one instead.

Preparation

It's. Not. What. You. Think.

Of course I didn't borrow my sister's puppy backpack leash for our upcoming trip to California. I scoff at those parents whose kids are so out of control that they have to restrain them in public places. Still, as embarrassing as the leash might be, it's better than losing our firstborn at the airport, and we wanted to bring the umbrella stroller for Jonathan instead of the SUV double stroller, since we think we'll only need it at the airports anyway. Kathryn was eager to try on the "backpack" and did not want to part with it before naptime.

That's right though, I mentioned that we're going to California! My girlhood dream of visiting the left coast is coming to fruition this weekend. Mike is officiating his high school best friend's wedding, and we are excited to get there. I'd say we're excited to be going, but the "going" part has me quite nervous. We think Kathryn will do fine, but any suggestions for what to do with a 10-month-old on an airplane for 6 hours? I'm all ears.

Seeing Jesus

Mike continued in Mark today with Mark 8:22-9:13, Seeing Jesus. I was with the children this morning, so I'll have to listen to it here. That's right, I'm posting it here before hearing it myself. That's how much I trust this man's preaching.

If you still need to catch up...

Introducing Jesus (Mark 1:1-13)
Jesus is King (Mark 1:14-20)
The Authority of Jesus (Mark 1:21-2:12)
Jesus and Conflict (Mark 2:13-3:6)
Who's Jesus to You? (Mark 3:7-35)
Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom (Mark 4:1-34)
Jesus is Lord (Mark 4:35-5:43)
Jesus and the Valley (Mark 6:1-29)
The Compassion of Jesus (Mark 6:30-56)
Jesus and Reality (Mark 7:1-23)
Claiming Jesus (Mark 7:24-37)
Jesus the Shepherd (Mark 8:1-21)

Another Zoo Trip

My parents came to the zoo to keep the kids and me company while Mike was working on his sermon last Saturday. While my mother and I took pictures of Kathryn and my dad on all of the iron animal sculptures we could find, for some reason, he did not send those ones to me.

My mom and I enjoyed watching Kathryn and my dad pal around all morning. Here they are leading the way down the path.


If anyone hates getting their picture taken more than me, it's my mom. She really shouldn't though, she's cute. Here are my folks with the kids. Jonathan enjoyed the front seat of the stroller for a change since my dad is a softy and let Kathryn either walk or ride on his shoulders the whole time.


My dad took this one of Kathryn in the car. I'm pretty sure she's the cutest 2-year-old in the world right now.

Arlington

In honor of our 1-year anniversary of living in the straight-up thug town called Arlington...

Pressing On

It's not that I forgot to post Mike's last sermon, it's just that life changed really quickly and I didn't get around to it. Perhaps if you people commented on the sermon posts once in awhile I'd have had a little more motivation to put it up. I'm just saying.

Mike preached on Mark 7:24-37, Claiming Jesus, a couple of Sundays ago, and it was his last sermon at our former church. There's more to it than that, but even if I'm willing to tell you that I let the 2-year-old wear her underwear inside out and I spill milk once in awhile at Costco, there are certain things in life that I just don't go into unless you come over for coffee. I will say that dear friends of mine were hurt over the past few weeks, and we think in some ways the Gospel was lied about. But God always does His children good, and we press on in faith.

What this means for you is that I'll be posting sermons more frequently for you not to comment on, since it looks like we're starting a new work here in Arlington. Mike preached yesterday to what looks like our charter group, and since a number of them have been with us from the beginning, he's still plugging along in Mark. This week's sermon was on Mark 8:1-21, Jesus the Shepherd. Of course, there are still all of the previous ones if you're so inclined.

Introducing Jesus (Mark 1:1-13)
Jesus is King (Mark 1:14-20)
The Authority of Jesus (Mark 1:21-2:12)
Jesus and Conflict (Mark 2:13-3:6)
Who's Jesus to You? (Mark 3:7-35)
Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom (Mark 4:1-34)
Jesus is Lord (Mark 4:35-5:43)
Jesus and the Valley (Mark 6:1-29)
The Compassion of Jesus (Mark 6:30-56)
Jesus and Reality (Mark 7:1-23)

First Word

We have a first word! It isn't Daddy or Mommy. It's not food, paci, or nap, though he loves all of those things.

No, this is a boy who knows what he wants and how to ask for it. "Ball! Ball! Ball, ball, ball!" We've tested it out for a week now, and he has said it over and over. Very fun!

Imagination

Kathryn had a hold of the camera the other day, and took this picture of her play kitchen. Look at how blindingly shiny that sink is!!

My happy sink-shiner on her way to the grocery store with Baby Alex, Miss Lou, some milk, and mom's sandals.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabboth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

(Mar­tin Lut­her, 1529. Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Fred­er­ic H. Hedge, 1853)

Everything

I've been silent here this week because sometimes life just gets too...loud. It's been an up and down, round and round week for us, but far more up than down. God promises to give us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge in Him (2 Peter 1:3), and He has made that amazingly clear to me this week.

Mike and I have been reading through the Autobiography of George Muller and have been encouraged by Muller's total and visible dependence on God displayed through his prayers. I do not pray has boldly as I ought, but God is faithful just the same. This past Wednesday, for instance, Mike came home for lunch with some difficult news. Minutes before he arrived, a dear friend came over unexpectedly with dinner and a pie, saying she had desired to make us dinner. After Mike left to return to work, the rest of my day was sort of scattered. I felt unable to do much more than care for the children, pray, and rest. I was overwhelmed by the Lord's grace to me in providing dinner, even before I knew it would be difficult for me to make dinner. It reminded me of a time last spring when I was pregnant and would get sick whenever I cooked -- one afternoon I was dreading making dinner and a neighbor offered it without my asking.

Later on Wednesday, a friend came over while Mike was out. I hadn't wanted to be alone, but I hadn't asked anyone to come over, either. She encouraged me in the Lord, reminded me of truth, prayed with me, and laughed with me. I think if she had not come, the temptation to fear would have been more than I could handle -- but God sent her to remind me of truth. The Lord's care for his children is abundant, and He knows what they need before they ask him (Matthew 6:32). Oh, that I would have more faith!

In the Army Now

As little I encouraged it, and as much as I talked about discouraging it, Jonathan decided yesterday that he wanted to crawl. So he does now, and it's kind of fun.